Diplocheila (Isorembus) major melissisa Ball 1959

Diplocheila major melissisa new subspecies
Diplochila major Casey [in part], 1913:148. — Leng, [in part], 1915:579. Diplochila laticollis Leng, [in part], ibid.
The diagnostic characters of this subspecies are : anterior margin of the pronotum more deeply concave than in major, sides constricted in front of middle, not rotund, and elytral striae generally impunctate. In addition, the number of spines in the posterior median row of the hind tibiae does not exceed two.
Description. — Type, female. Clewiston, Hendry County, Fla., April 7, 1937; (Harvey I. Scudder, at light). Female. Length 17.3 mm., width 7.9 mm. Luster and sculpture as in the typical subspecies.
Frontal impressions of head deep, oblong-oval pits, extending posteriorly a short distance beyond anterior margin of eye. Eyes of average convexity.
Pronotum with sides arcuate, slightly constricted basally, appearing to be more strongly constricted anteriorly than in D. major major; anterior margin more deeply concave than in m. major, median longitudinal impression shallow, extending full length of pronotum, anterior transverse impression very faintly indicated a short distance either side of median impression ; posterior lateral linear pits slightly sinuate (fig. 46).
Elytra with striae 1-5 moderately deeply impressed, impunctate, stria 6 finer and somewhat shallower than 1-5. Stria 7 faintly indicated in anterior and posterior 1/4 (excluding apical 1/5), more strongly indicated medially, but finer than 6. Intervals flat, 3 of each elytron with a single puncture. Retractile stylus not studied. Allotype. — Male. Same data as for type.
Length 16.1 mm., width 7.3 mm. Differs slightly from type in relative proportions. Frontal impressions of head consisting of a pair of pits on either side, the anterior one of each pair deeper, the posterior faintly indicated. Pronotum as in type. Elytra as in type.
Genitalia not studied.
Variation. — The paratypes agree closely with the type in general appearance. Data on variation in length, width, and number of spines in the posterior median row of the hind tibiae are presented in tables 17-19. Frontal impressions vary as in the typical subspecies.
The elytral striae are feebly punctate in a few specimens from localities scattered over the range of this subspecies. Stria 7 is completely absent (excepting deepened portion in apical 1/5) in some specimens.
Synonymical Notes. — Casey's concept of D. major Le C. was based on a single specimen from Louisiana. However, this specimen belongs to the subspecies named here. Leng also recorded the Florida specimens which he examined as being typical major. I have seen most of the specimens which Leng referred to laticollis Le C. from Florida, and all appear to belong to this new subspecies. A single specimen, from Enterprise, Florida, in the United States National Museum collection, bears a label with the unpublished name Rembus floridamis Schaeffer on it.
Distribution. — This subspecies is known from Texas, westward as far as Dallas, and southward on the Gulf Coast as far as Port Arthur ; eastward through southern Louisiana, southern Alabama, and Florida ; southward to Miami, and Cuba, in the Greater Antilles.
I have taken one specimen at Myakka River State Park, Sarasota County, Florida. This individual was found at the edge of a temporary pond under a mat of water hyacinth, and when disturbed it ran into the water, behaving like a hydrophilid.
Twenty-nine males and forty-seven females, paratypes, collected in the following localities, have been examined. The type and allotype are in the collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, paratypes are in the collections of the following institutions : American Museum of Natural Ffistory, Museum of Comparative Zoology, United States National Museum, Cornell University.
Alabama : Mobile County ; Mobile. Cuba : County not determined — Camoa Habane, Somorrostio. Range of dates of collection: March 10-April. Florida: Brevard County — Rockledge; Dade County — Bisc. Bay, Miami, South Miami; Glades County — Moore Haven ; Hendry County — Clewiston, LaBelle ; Indian River County — Sebastian ; Lee County — Ft. Myers ; Palm Beach County — L. Worth ; Putnam County — Crescent City ; Range County — Orlando, Winter Park; Saint Johns County — St. Augustine; Sarasota County — Sarasota; Seminole County — Osceola, Sanford ; Volusia County — Enterprise, Ormond ; County not determined — Capron, Hanover. Range of dates of collection : January 5May 25. Louisiana : Orleans County — New Orleans ; Saint Tammany County — Covington ; Vermilion County — Gueydan. Range of dates of collection : February 2-October 26. Texas : Dallas County — Dallas ; Jefferson County — Port Arthur. June 6.